Tag: boonville cottage

First, I would like to say that sadly, David Austin Sr., acclaimed rosarian and founder of David Austin Roses, recently passed away on December 18th, 2018. He was 92 years old and he left behind a huge legacy in the world of roses. He spent much of his life creating an amazing array of romantic, “English Roses,” at a time when the trend was going with the more common, (dare I say boring,) Hybrid Tea Roses that can be found in any big box garden center. He definitely changed the way that many people appreciate and use roses in their gardens. His family will be carrying on with their wonderful roses, but he will be immensely missed.

So, with that being said, if you love growing roses, you’ll know that David Austin Roses are simply the most beautiful and healthiest roses available. Their old world charm, wonderful fragrance and hardiness make them my only choice for the new, rose garden at the Boonville cottage. While it is still too early to plant a majority of the plants in the main garden, I did order a couple of, “Wollerton Old Hall,” climbers this season to grow over the shed. The flowers are a pale apricot that fade to cream and I think that they will look nice next to the “salmon red” walls of the shed.

The rest of the rose garden will probably have to planted next year. There just won’t be enough time to get the lot graded and the hardscape done before the heat of summer sets in. However, I may go ahead and order the roses this spring, pot them up and leave them on my porch, where I can carefully watch and water them. Of course, buying in bulk is the way to go. David Austin offers several collections that are so enticing. I’ve also got a 15% off discount because I’ve ordered from them before. Nice!

Surrounding the rose garden will be hedges. Right now, I’m thinking of using a cultivar of Thuja Arborvitae for my hedge plants. They grow tall and will maintain a lovely, conical shape if left to grow naturally, or they can be clipped into a tall, boxy shape.

I plan to use smaller hedges closer to the cottage, most likely some sort of boxwood cultivar. The backyard will be lawn, rimmed with white Hydrangeas (arborescens Incrediball®) and already established trees.

There’s a lot of hard work ahead. I will have to get some help with the soil preparation and planting. These old bones just can’t take it anymore. Still, it is what keeps me young. Garden on!

So…OK…we don’t even have our plans approved yet, but I’m already chomping at the bit and ready to sink my teeth into this new project. After all, one can never start too early with creative endeavours… I’m so excited!

I’m really hoping that the entire, “Boonville Cottage,” project will reflect a sense of place and history. Even though it is going to be a new building, I want it to feel like it’s been there forever. It’s important that it has that, “Anderson Valley,” vibe, and not look like it came out of some showroom in NYC. On top of everything else, it has to be welcoming.

I’ve decided to decorate the cottage in a similar way that my own home is done…simple, used, vintage items that have lots of soul and casual comfort. Nothing too fancy, frivolous, nor overly trendy; just a, “feel-good,” kind of decorating. I’ve been completely inspired by designer, Molly Hyde English’s style and her book, “Camps and Cottages.” Her style is so similar to mine and I’ll love looking through her website and reading her newsletter for new ideas and products.

I already have several furniture pieces that I have in mind to use. They’ll all need refurbishing…that will keep me busy for awhile. I’ll definitely be heading over to Miss Mustard Seed’s for her wonderful milk paints and new ideas. I’d also really like to create my own fabrics for some of the upholstery projects. Spoonflower is a fabulous resource for doing that. If I don’t have time for that, then it’s Brick House Fabrics for their amazing collection of traditional prints and yardage.

It’s also time to get out my paints and create some wall art. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any serious painting. My DIL is a very talented artist and I hope to get her involved in this project. but, if her schedule doesn’t permit that, then I’ll have to wing it on my own. The DH is willing to make me some custom, art frames out of old growth redwood and knotty madrone. (He’s also willing to make a unique dining table for the cottage. Boy…am I’m a lucky girl!)

The gardens will be trickier. It’s plants will need time to grow and mature, so the first year, or two, will look a little stark, I’m afraid. I’m going to have to come up with some strategies for filling in the bare spots until the foundation plantings take over. There’s nothing a few packets of flower seeds can’t solve.

Building a new garden can also be an expensive venture. I’m hoping that I can clone as many hedge plants as possible over the next couple of months to save on plant costs. I’m always on the lookout for little snips and cuttings of plants as I walk my dog, “Lucy,” through town. (I never take anything that is in their yard, only what is growing on the public parkway.)

I can also draw from my own collection of plants that have been lovingly passed down through the generations, such as a Clivia plant from my late mom’s house, giant callas from Gramma’s, scented geraniums from a friend’s yard and several plants that were gifts from my son and daughter. All of these can be divided and multiplied to be used in the new place. Spread, err…plant the love, I say.

As far as the roses go, I’m certainly not going to scrimp, or cut corners here. They are the center pieces of the garden. I will only order from a company that I trust to give me superior plants and that’s David Austin Roses. Over the years, I’ve tried several companies for ordering roses online for my own, personal residence I have to say, and David Austin is by far the best in their selection and quality of products and service. Even today, as we approach the winter months, my David Austin roses are still lush, green and still blooming, while the other roses look tired, leafless and weak. There’s just no comparison.

There will be other garden elements needed. I’ll be hunting for free compost, garden benches, birdbaths, etc. You never know what we’ll find. I’ll be making my own planters for the deck out of old, used redwood, downed logs, or possibly clay or cement.

All in all, I’ll have my hands full. I love it all! I just hope that my energy level can keep up with my imagination. My fingers are crossed!

I’ve decided to add a new category in the index just for the Boonville cottage, which will be where I’ll be continuing the writings on this project, so please look for that when you revisit.

A Demonstration Garden For our Boonville Cottage

I’m planning the demonstration garden for the Boonville cottage as the rain comes pouring down. I’m stuck inside once again, so why not do something constructive? It’s been a long, wet winter this year, offering up very few days to get out there and work in the dirt…errr…I mean mud. We are expecting a few days of sunshine, starting this weekend, so I’m getting prepared. I’ve got the shovels sharpened and the rototiller primed and ready to go. Now, I’m drawing up a garden plot, even though the actual cottage isn’t built yet. No problem, I can work around that. The time to start the garden is now.

Demonstration Garden Will Educate

Grow Your Own Food

So, the big question is: What do I want my demonstration garden to demonstrate? What are the messages that I want to get across? Well, first off, I want my cottage guests to know that you can plant a garden to feed a family on a small, town-size lot. We already have a row of twenty, old, apple trees along one fence line and a pear and walnut tree in the back of the property. We could add a couple more fruit trees, such as a plum, or apricot. As for other fruits, were planning a mini-vineyard in the front and I hope to put in some thornless blackberries and raspberries somewhere; perhaps along the fence with our neighbor, so that he can enjoy the berries too. Of course, there will be large, permanent, veggie plots.

Edible Gardens Can Be Beautiful

I also want them to know that a self sufficient, food garden can be beautiful. Along with flowers and climbing roses, edible landscaping is a must. Honeyberries, strawberries and aronia berries should go around the house.

Strawberries – part of the edible landscape

Elderberries will work well for a tall, informal hedge that will block off the neighboring fairgrounds along the back line of the property. Artichokes make nice landscape plants near the house. I feel strongly that there should be a spattering of medicinal herbs around the lot, either as landscape, or in the veggie plots.

Herbs, both culinary and medicinal, are a nice edition to the garden landscape

Demonstrate Gardening Techniques

Besides the plants themselves, I do want to demonstrate a few of the various gardening techniques. Organic gardening is a must, but there could be much more than that. Perhaps one plot could show off Veganic gardening. Permaculture practices will definitely be part of the landscape. We could also compare a no-till plot to a double digging plot, or new varieties of veggies compared to ancient ones. There is a spot in the front of the shed that is always damp and shady, so that would be a good place to show off ferns and other acid-loving plants.

Fill in the shady spot with ferns and other acid loving plants.

Creating the Garden Plot

So, how on earth are we going to fit demonstration garden in? It’s not as complicated as you might think. It’s amazing how much food one can grow on a tiny, city lot. (OK…so Boonville isn’t exactly a “city,” but you get my drift.) Our guests need to enjoy the garden and be right there in the middle of it. So, I’m thinking of designing it in a semi-circle of veggie plots, radiating out from the house and patio. There will to be an open area for horseshoe pits and BBQ, and a hammock hidden amongst the plots. We have to have a table and seating, so that our guests and can relax and enjoy it all. There also needs to be a sense of privacy…a secret garden hidden from view, so hedges and fences must be considered.

As for the existing shed, it desperately needs a makeover and we’ve already started on that. We’ve been priming the new exterior walls that will be going up on the backside of the building. The old ones are just too rotten to try to paint over. The final color of the shed will be a salmony, “barn red,” with cream trim. The yellow, Lady Banks roses will climb up the sunnier sides of the building. This building sits near the front of the property, so it will be a nice, welcoming feature as our guests drive in.

My biggest worry is how I’m going to actually DO all of this. I’ll definitely need some help. Volunteers would be wonderful, but I can’t really expect that, since this is a for-profit venture. I’m sure there are some young people in town that would be willing to work with me on the weekends for pay. My kids may pitch in once in awhile, but they have jobs and need some days off. Of course, my hubby is always there to lend a hand…thanks, Hon.

Why a Demonstration Garden?

You’re probably asking WHY I’m doing this. First, for educational purposes. The people that I expect will be staying at our cottage will probably be from the city. I hope that they come away from their stay with us with some courage to try building an edible garden on their own properties. Therefore, I plan to offer lots of books to read while they are there, as well as a notebook explaining the details of our own garden. Our guests will also have the joy of eating fresh, wholesome food that is grown right out the back door.

I also wish to produce enough excess produce in the demonstration garden for our neighborhood food bank. It always surprises me how many people just don’t have enough to eat, even in our little community, where everything appears to be so bountiful. I could go out and buy canned and prepared foods for donating, but those just don’t hold a candle, nutritionally, to fresh fruits and vegetables.

So, let it rain. While the storm is howling outside, I’m warm and safe inside, with my plans and promises. Ahh…armchair gardening is so much fun! Now, I just hope that I can follow through, roll up my sleeves and do what I say. Wish me luck. (Pix are coming soon.)